Miguel was in his office, attentively observing the papers scattered across the desk. The construction of the wall was going well, but his thoughts were far from there. He picked up a glass of wine and walked to the window, gazing at the distant city. The newly installed hoisting towers moved constantly, lifting bricks to ever greater heights. The sight of the progress brought him some relief, but also a sense of unease.
He pondered the silence from the duchy and his brothers. Surely they knew he was alive, and for some reason, they hadn't acted again yet. Miguel feared that more assassins could be sent at any moment. With a sigh, he took a sip of wine, trying to push away these dark thoughts.
As the crimson liquid slid down his throat, his mind wandered to his former life. It was strange to be a 20-year-old again. Before, as a 30-year-old engineer in a peaceful country, his life was average, full of routine and security. Now, he was Miguel, living in a medieval world, struggling to protect a barony and facing constant threats. He wondered what had happened to the real Miguel. Had he died? Or was he living in his original body, trying to understand what had happened? There were so many possibilities that he knew it wasn't worth speculating.
He continued to drink the wine, enjoying the view from the window. In the distance, he saw the wall rising, the result of the joint effort of humans and beastmen. These people believed in him, placing their hopes in his hands. It was a huge responsibility, but also a powerful motivation.
While he was lost in his thoughts, he heard a knock on his office door. He turned and asked the person to come in. It was Marta, bringing the young Lila with her. The girl, who seemed to be only 14 years old, had a shy look, but there was determination in her eyes. Marta, always attentive, left the room, allowing Miguel and Lila to talk alone.
Miguel looked at Lila with an encouraging smile. "Hello, Lila. How are you today?" he asked, trying to break the ice.
Lila gave a small smile, still a bit nervous. "I'm fine, Mr. Miguel. I... I wanted to talk to you about something important," she said, hesitantly.
Miguel nodded, gesturing for her to sit. "Of course, Lila. You can talk. I'm here to listen," he said, curious about what the young mage wanted to discuss.
Lila sat in the chair in front of Miguel's desk, adjusting the simple dress she wore. Her eyes shone with a mix of fear and determination. She took a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak.
Miguel watched the young girl attentively. He knew that Lila had gone through many hardships, just like everyone there. "You don't need to be afraid, Lila. I'm here to help," he said softly, trying to reassure her.
Lila looked at him and opened her mouth to speak but hesitated again. Miguel waited patiently, not pressing her. He knew that forcing the situation would not help. While waiting, his thoughts briefly returned to his former life and all the changes he had faced since then.
Finally, Lila seemed to find the necessary courage. She straightened her shoulders and began to speak, her voice still low but firm. "Mr. Miguel, I..." she began, but Miguel raised his hand to gently interrupt her.
"Lila, you can just call me Miguel. We're not in public, so there's no need for formalities," he said with an encouraging smile.
"Miguel, I... I want to talk about my powers," she began, looking directly into his eyes. "I need to learn to control the magic within me. I need a tutor."
Miguel was surprised by the request. He didn't know how to react or how he could help Lila. He began to think quickly, looking for a solution. The only option that came to mind was to ask the beastmen for help. He couldn't trust the church, suspecting that they were responsible for the attack on Lila's village, and somehow, they were after her.
"I... understand, Lila," Miguel responded, trying to process the situation. "I will look for someone who can help you. Maybe there are magicians in the beastmen society."
Lila seemed relieved by Miguel's response, but there was still a shadow of uncertainty in her eyes. Miguel stood up and called for João, the young servant who appeared to be around 15 or 16 years old. John appeared promptly.
"João, I would like you to accompany Lila so she can take a walk around the city," Miguel said. "She has been inside this mansion for too long."
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Lila shook her head, refusing the suggestion. "I'm fine, I don't want to go out at the moment."
Miguel approached her and spoke softly. "Lila, it will be good for you. Since you arrived here, you haven't gone out once. You can't just lock yourself up in here."
After hesitating a bit, Lila finally agreed. The two left the room, leaving Miguel alone with his thoughts. He returned to the window and poured another glass of wine, thinking about his younger siblings he had in his former life. Lila and John reminded him of them, and he felt a pang of homesickness and concern.
As he looked at the distant city, Miguel knew that he had many responsibilities and challenges ahead. Finding a tutor for Lila was just one more, but he was determined to find a solution and ensure that everyone there was safe and protected. He took another sip of wine, trying to push away his worries, and turned his attention back to what still needed to be done.
---
On top of the front wall, a guard watched the construction. The wall was partially finished, and three ballistae had already been installed in this section. The morning was calm, the sound of workers filling the air, when another guard caught his attention, pointing toward the trees.
“Look over there,” said the second guard, with a worried expression.
The first guard followed the pointed finger and saw five riders emerging from the trees, mounted on beautiful black horses. The sight of these riders immediately put the guard on alert. Without wasting time, he ordered the gates to be closed.
“Close the gates, now!” he shouted to the soldiers below. “Even though the southern, eastern, and western sections are not yet complete, the front and western zones are. We need to maintain security.”
The soldiers quickly obeyed, and the gates began to close with a heavy creak. The three ballistae were quickly armed and aimed at the approaching riders. The tension was palpable as the guards readied their weapons, prepared for any eventuality.
“Call John,” the guard ordered. “We need him here immediately.”
A soldier ran down the stairs of the wall towards the barracks to fetch John, while the other guards remained vigilant, their hands firm on the levers of the ballistae. The riders continued to approach, their movements elegant and coordinated. The distance between them and the wall slowly diminished, and everyone anxiously awaited John's arrival to decide the next step.
The atmosphere was charged with uncertainty and tension, each guard feeling the weight of responsibility on their shoulders. The presence of the unknown riders posed a potential threat, and they knew they couldn’t let their guard down for a second.
John arrived at the wall with hurried steps, worry etched on his face. He looked at the soldiers present and quickly asked, “What’s happening?”
One of the soldiers pointed to the group of five riders ahead, watching the wall closely. John squinted and quickly recognized the uniforms. They were guards of the duchy, and with them was a woman wearing simpler, yet no less lethal, armor.
“Damn,” John muttered to himself, his heart racing. Before he could give any orders, the woman on the horse shouted, her voice full of authority, “Hey, you there. Call your baron. I have matters to discuss with him.”
John thought he saw a malicious smile on the woman’s face. Her gaze was sharp and determined. He took a deep breath and asked, “What do you want?”
The woman rolled her eyes, irritated. “That’s none of a mere soldier’s concern. And if you don’t call the baron soon and make me wait any longer, I’ll take your head off myself.”
John felt a chill down his spine but remained calm. With no other choice, he ordered one of his men to go to the mansion and summon Baron Miguel. The soldier left immediately, running through the town towards the mansion. Meanwhile, John kept an eye on the riders, the tension increasing with every second. He knew their presence meant trouble, and the woman’s threat was not something he could ignore.
The other soldiers kept the automatic ballistae aimed at the riders, ready for any suspicious movement. The atmosphere was thick with uncertainty and danger, and everyone knew that the next step could determine the future of the barony.